Antipyretic Effects of Eupatorium chinense and Its Mechanism

Abstract Objective To investigate the antipyretic effect of Eupatorium chinense and its mechanism. Methods The content of arginine vasopressin (AVP) in ventral septal area (VSA) and blood plasma, and cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP) levels of hypothalamus and blood plasma were determined by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay. Results The body temperature (Tb) was decreased at 1 h after administration of E. chinense (3 and 6 g/kg) and Aspirin (0.3 g/kg) respectively, which was significantly different from the temperature of fever model group. The antipyretic effect of Aspirin and E. chinense lasted for longer time. Aspirin (0.3 g/kg) and E. chinense (3 and 6 g/kg) reduced the level of cAMP in hypothalamus of fever rats and increased AVP content in plasma. The changes in cAMP content in plasma of all drug treatment groups were not obvious. Conclusion E. chinense has strong antipyretic effect and may affect the production of AVP and cAMP in fever rats.